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People group profile · PG012683

The Matal of Cameroon

The Matal of Cameroon, numbering about 61,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an indigenous people of northern Cameroon, primarily recognized for their distinctive Afro‑Asiatic Chadic language.

They are an indigenous people in the Chadic people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Matal.

Pray for the MatalPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Matal people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3 Flash: Matal

Fast facts

Country
Cameroon
Population
61,000
Affinity group
Sub-Saharan African Peoples
People cluster
Chadic
Primary language
Matal (mfh)
Primary religion
Animism
Strategic Progress Index
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
10% or Greater but Less than 15%
GSEC
10% or Greater Evangelical
Lostness priority
Moderately Reached People Group
Also known as
Muktele, Balda
Region
Middle Africa, Africa
Location
Far North region: Mayo-Sava division, Mora subdivision, southwest of Mora, east edge of Mandara mountains

Where they live

Gospel status

The Matal are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Matal

  • Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
  • Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
  • Send out laborers from this people to the nations

Primary religion

Animism · Ethnoreligion

90% adherents

Primary language

Matal · Afro-Asiatic family

100% speak Matal

Gospel resources in Matal

  • Bible available, published 2011
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Matal

  1. Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
  2. Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
  3. Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
  4. John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.

Download a prayer guide

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